It’s The Color That Counts: Big and Small Green Improvements for Your Home

As more and more information comes to light about how our technology and modern ways of living have affected the environments, it’s much more common for homeowners to decide they want to try to make their homes as green and environmentally friendly as possible. It’s not just for Boulder "yippies" anymore either! Some people have more of a budget put aside than others for this, but even if you’re a little short on cash, there are small ways you can improve your home that’ll ultimately help make a big difference when it comes to saving the environment. Some might even have the potential to save you some money in the long run too!

First, if you do have a bit of money saved up to put to this specific purpose, consider changing your roofing or siding materials to Plywood, OSB or paneled siding that helps reflect a great portion of the sun’s reflective energy. You want siding that does this because it will ultimately end up saving you money in electricity costs since your house will stay cooler in the summer and keep your electricity costs down. The same goes for specific types of insulation that will help keep heat in during the winter.

If you have some money saved up but are a little worried about spending it all on energy efficient materials that’ll improve your home, there are also options that might cost a bit more upfront but will ultimately pay off the next time you do taxes. Look for Energy Star label shingles for your home. The federal government offers a 30 percent rebate come tax time, which comes to about $1500 of savings when it comes time to filling out your taxes.

Lastly, if money is a big concern right now, there are small ways you can chip in to help the environment, while not taking a chunk out of your bank account at the same time. If you already have blinds or shades on your windows, for example, remembering to keep them closed over your windows during daylight hours will add up in terms of saving money in electricity costs over a period of time. And instead of turning your heat up higher in the winter, just open up your window’s shades and let the sun naturally heat up your home. Also make sure your windows don’t have any cracks or drafts in them. This can be a fast way to help your energy bill too, since you won’t end up having to pay more in heating or cooling if your windows and doors are properly sealed to the outside elements.

Top 5 Things To Do in Denver

According to various online resources, Denver is considered the most popular big city in America, and if you live here, you already know why!  Being the envy of other major cities’ like Manhattan and Los Angels, Denver offers its residents a high-quality of life, safe neighborhoods, breathtaking views and tons of things to do. Whether you are planning a move to Denver or just a trip, there are several attractions in the area that are a definite must-see. 

Denver’s Capital Building is the jewel in the city's skyline, literally.  Construction of this Corinthian Style masterpiece was completed in 1896 and is still one of the main highlights of the city. Two of the most distinguishable characteristics of the Capital Building are its gold dome, which features more than 200 ounces of pure 24 carat gold leaf, and its one of a kind Colorado Onyx wainscoting and pillars.   

The Denver Zoo is not only a great place for kids but it's also attractive to older generations as a fantastic place for a date or to host an event.  From a very modest beginning, Denver’s Zoo is now one of the most extravagant zoos in America with over 80-acre and 4000 animals.  Not just a popular warm weather attraction, the Denver Zoo hosts tons of events like Boo at the Zoo and Zoo Lights which brings in visitors year round. The Toyota Elephant Passage is a half a billion dollar Asian Tropic exhibit which is powered by an eco-friendly biomass gasification technology that utilizes human trash and animal waste to produce energy.

A longtime symbol of excellence and notoriety in Denver is the world famous Brown Palace Hotel.  This elegant triangular shaped Italian Renaissance building features an eight-story stained-glass atrium, Colorado Red Granite and Arizona Sandstone, 12,400 surface feet of Onyx and a variety of semiprecious quartz.  Truly stunning in appearance the Brown Palace is also hot spot for dining and entertainment.

If you are looking for fun in Denver, LoDo is the place to be.  The Lower Downtown side of Denver is one of the liveliest areas in the city.  Here you will find dozens of restaurants, nightclubs, local business, and the Coor’s Baseball Field. A great place to walk about during the day, LoDo really comes alive once the sun goes down.

Antique Row is the official antique district of Denver located over an 8 block stretch from 1100 to 1800 S Boradway in Southwest Denver.  With over 400 antiques dealers in the district, many antique buffs consider Antique Row to be the Mecca for old western and cowboy artifacts. You can also expect to find many dealers here that specialize in silver, porcelain, Depression glass, dolls, jewelry and furniture.  There are also several great restaurants in the area which makes it very easy for visitors to enjoy a whole days worth of antique shopping.